The Catterthun’s Gold.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 8610, 27 August 1896, Page 3

The Catterthun’s Gold.

months of anxious work and disheartening disappointments, the bulk of the Oatterthun gold is ready for circulation once more. The intend to sell 5000 sovereignsat a premium of half-a-crown, the proceeds to go to the Shipwreck Relief Society. As the divers receive 15 per cent, of the gold they recover, their share of the treasure already brought up will amount to about £SOO apiece. It is estimated that the cost of recovering the gold is a little over 40 per cent, of its value. The reason the remainder of the gold had to be abandoned is that when the boxes were originally placed in the tank liberal use of paper wadding to prevent rolling about with the motion of the steamer was made. The paper now forms a layer of pulp a couple of feet deep at the bottom of the tank, and when disturbed the water becomes so cloudy that it is impossible to distinguish anything, even with the aid of the electric light. Speaking of the experiences whilebelow the divers say that the most uncomfortable sensation is the intense loneliness, rendered greater by the weirdness of the light in which they work. They never have the electric light on, except when a lamp is required in the tank, as they are found too powerful an attract ion for fish, which at times gather round them in immense numbers. Their finny friends on the Catterthun are principally king fish, leather jackets and young sharks, which approached without the least fear. The men also report that a large shark took up its quarters on the deck near the chart room, and when entering the room they had frequently to brush almost past his tail. The monster, however, did not fcake the slightest notice.